Conference:
Abstract: "This paper examines the use of grassland products from the Royal Bardia National Park in the Western Terai of Nepal. This area has been taken over as state property from being areas of agricultural use less than two decades ago. However, the management of the area for nature conservation relies on human disturbance in the form of grass cutting. This is currently carried out through permitted extraction of resources for a ten day period each year. The extent of the extraction of different grass species and their uses is outlined, and the importance of the various products to local households is discussed. Prospects for the sustainable utilisation of the grasslands, optimising the benefits of biodiversity conservation, tourism, and the livelihoods of local people are explored. The paper is based on recent fieldwork undertaken as part of the UEA Tall Grasslands Research Project. This project aims to combine ecological experiments and socio-economic research to investigate the management options for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of biodiversity in the protected areas in Nepalis Terai. The theoretical framework adopted has been one of political ecology, focusing on the role of natural resources from the protected areas in local people's livelihood strategies involving a synthesis of ecological and environmental economics. The paper will discuss conceptual and methodological issues concerning the evolution of an interdisciplinary approach as well as present some preliminary results and tentative conclusions on natural resources management in these unique tall grassland habitats. I am very keen to attend the conference and would like to present a paper. I hope you feel that this paper would merit inclusion in the programme. Perhaps you could kindly let me know as soon as possible so I can register."